Respect (or the Lack of It)

Saying yes to God is not only an act of faith. It is also an act of respect to Him. You see, our God is such an awesome God because He willed to be with us in the person of His only Son, Jesus Christ. Being one like us, except sin, proves that God is not "watching us, from a distance", as a 90s song goes, but someone who is up, close, and personal. Being personal means being in a relationship with Him.

One of the important ingredients that keeps a relationship healthy is respect. Imagine parents not respecting each other, would their family thrive? Imagine community members not respecting each other, wouldn't that spell its demise? Imagine the government not respecting the rule of law and the rights of citizens, wouldn't that breed social unrest? Imagine the Church, especially those in the hierarchy, not respecting dignity of the poor and abused, wouldn't that cause scandal? Imagine if we don't respect God, wouldn't our souls be in peril? 

Why do we respect God and men? Isn't it because they are important in our lives? And because they are important, we make it a point not to offend them, yes? Sadly, since the time of Adam and Eve, our sins reveal how insignificant God and others are in our lives. If we respect God, we would make it a point, for example, to attend Sunday Mass. Devoting an hour in a week for the Lord is all He's asking! If we respect others, we would, for example, refrain from backstabbing them, attacking them in social media, or slandering them.

While on earth, Jesus was the perfect Son because He respected and fulfilled His Father's will. He was also the perfect gentleman because He respected people regardless if they were rich or poor, saint or sinner, Jew or Gentile.

Let's think of the relationship we have with God and those around us. How we value it determines how respectful we are.

***

President Duterte appoints Associate Justice Teresita De Castro as Chief Justice. While I respect the President's prerogative, I am disappointed with his lack of respect to people's plight in the hands of corruption and injustice (which he has been so vocal of) by appointing someone whose integrity is questionable (not to mention that she will only be in the position until her retirement in October - a windfall for her at the expense of the public).  Apart from deciding in favor of controversial cases such as allowing Marcos' remains to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, this Ampalaya Queen has not only complained, but also testified, and voted for the unconstitutional ouster of Maria Lourdes Sereno as Chief Justice.  De Castro's ambition is diabolical! Yes, change has come, for the worse!

Ayoko ng Garapal

When we were young, most of us would have heard some of our elders say cuss words. Of course, all of us would become curious what those words mean. One time, I asked my late aunt Mommy Rosie. All she told me was "Piet, ayoko ng garapal." (Piet, I do not like you to be flagrant.) I never heard Mommy say any foul language. Even when she was angry, she would not say any curses. 

A teacher way back home once admitted that it becomes more difficult nowadays to teach good manners and right conduct because young people are exposed to the President's foul language. I totally agree. Remember when he swore at the Pope for causing traffic when the latter visited the Philippines in 2015? Remember his many statements impregnated with vulgarity? As the youth witness how the President conducts himself, whatever and however he speaks and acts become good examples for them.

Ayoko ng garapal.

Lately, the President called God "stupid" in a speech. I could tolerate his foul language, but to call God stupid is highly uncalled for. This is not exercising his free speech, as some of his apologists would put it. It is actually an abuse of such freedom, because his remarks is plain blasphemy. 

Ayoko ng garapal.

It got me thinking why would he call God as such? Was he angry at God or perhaps he was angry with the men of God - bishops and priests of the Catholic Church - whom he has lambasted ever since assuming office? When Fr Mark Ventura of the Archdiocese of Tuguegarao was killed, instead of conveying words of sympathy to the family and parishioners, what did Duterte say? He alleged that the priest had illicit affairs! 

Ayoko ng garapal.

Come June 30, it would be Duterte's second year as President. When he was sworn in, what were the last words of his oath? "So help me God" isn't it? As pater familias, he should have known better what invoking God's help meant. Asking for Divine Providence then and calling the same God stupid later is quite contradictory. Similar to his abhorrence to corruption and allowing Ferdinand Marcos to be buried in the hallow grounds reserved for the nation's heroes or firing his dishonest friends from one government agency and appointing them to another after the issues against them cool down.

Ayoko ng garapal.

I join fellow Christians - Catholic and non-Catholic alike - in condemning the President's irresponsible remarks. As we condemn such act - we are not condemning the person, take note! - let us reflect on what God has done for us. Surely, there is a reason why we call Him loving, merciful, forgiving, generous, and so on and so forth. I'm sure it's what we experienced from Him. Did Mr Duterte not experience the goodness (or any other attributes) of God? I hope not. At any rate, let's pray that he would be enlightened and realize that there is more to know about God. Let's also become good role models for our youth through our gentle words and good actions. 

Let us remain steadfast in the faith, the way Saints Peter and Paul - whose feast day we are celebrating today - lived, defended, and laid their lives for it.

Constitution in Peril

May 11, 1992 was a memorable date for the Philippines because it was the first synchronized national and local elections under the 1987 Constitution. Although unable to vote - I was a few days shy of turning 18 then - I was involved in the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPC-RV). I was stationed at Lakan Dula High School along Juan Street. As far as Gagalangin was concerned, the elections were peaceful. The following month, Fidel Valdez Ramos and Joseph Ejercito Estrada were inaugurated as President and Vice President respectively.

The Constitution has been the guiding principle of our land. Such framework is necessary for a nation to thrive. A few months before the 1992 elections, the Senate has rejected the Philippine-US Bases Agreement in spite of Cory Aquino's campaign to have it approved. The Upper Chamber has done so because it has been empowered by the Constitution as the sole treaty-ratifying body (Article VII Section 21). The Charter also empowers the Senate as the sole impeachment trial court for officials such as president, vice president, chief justice, ombudsman, etc (Article XI sections 2 and 3).

May 11, 2018 was a day of infamy for our country because, on a vote of 8-6,  the Supreme Court has booted out one of its members - Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno - on a quo warranto petition against her by the Solicitor General. This, in utter ignorance of what the Constitution has stipulated. It is a shame that the Supreme Court - the last resort of Mang Juan de la Cruz - has gone to this unconstitutional route because of bad blood against a neophyte colleague who was chosen over them as chief magistrate. It felt like the majority of justices behaved like kids who don't want a newbie to join in their circle. That weak spot became a way for the administration to get rid of its nemesis and gain control of what should be an independent and co-equal branch of government. No need for Martial Law, right?

Six of those justices who voted against Chief Justice Sereno were asked by her to recuse from the hearing because of their obvious bias (Accuser and judge at the same time? What is that?). Strangely, these men and woman in robes didn't yield to the request. Have they done the honorable thing, according to Professor Winnie Monsod, "[the] quo warranto petition would be in the trash can now, where it belongs."

Indeed, a precedent has been created because of this ghastly ruling: any judge or other constitutional official can be ousted though a quo warranto petition. No need for an impeachment trial, isn't it? This breeds a sycophant culture in government where no one will have the balls to defy the powers-that-be. This puts off our youth from serving the public through the government. This reduces government as a domain of the few than a forum for all.

I find it strange that the Senate, through its President, only made a statement hours after the ruling was made. They should have made noise about this earlier on. What remains to be seen is if Congress will proceed with the impeachment of Mrs Sereno or not.

I don't know what the next May 11 of the years to come would bring, but I hope it would be something good for the country. For now, let these events be a lesson for all. Left to our own devices (and that includes the grudges we nurse or our loyalties to so and so), there would be mayhem. But with the Constitution we have order. Hence, it has to be upheld. The Supreme Court failed to do so. It's high time to unite and fight!

The Buck Stops Here

The late US president Harry S Truman used to keep a sign with this phrase while holding office at the White House. For him, it served as a constant reminder that as president he has to make the decisions and accept full responsibility for those decisions.

Since that day of infamy when the Philippine Supreme Court (SC) allowed the burial of Ferdinand Marcos' remains at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (LNMB), mass protests, commentaries, statements, etc have been made denouncing the decision and vilifying the 9 associate justices who were in favour of such burial, the heirs of the former dictator for their deviousness in having the remains buried secretly at the LNMB, and Ferdinand Marcos himself for his 20-year rule of oppression and plunder.

There have been some commentators who were quick to point out that the blame for such an unthinkable burial shouldn't be put on the SC nor the Marcoses. The blame or the buck stops at President Rodrigo Duterte.  I totally agree. For wasn't Duterte the one who promised during the presidential campaign to have Marcos' remains interred at the LNMB? And when he won the elections, didn't he give orders to his subordinates to implement his promise? By the looks of it, the SC, Marcos Family, AFP, PNP, etc just took the cue from the President!

I think protests actions should not only highlight that the late strongman is not a hero. Protests should not only underscore the SC's failure to look beyond the letter of the law. Protests should not only bring to the fore the Marcoses' notoriety for using subterfuge on many, many occasions (when they were still in power and now that they feel entitled to such power, thanks to the President). 

The protests that are being organised across the country and beyond should also condemn Duterte's callousness for letting Marcos be buried in a cemetery reserved for heroes and for dismissing the atrocities of the Marcos dictatorship as though they were kuwentong kutsero. 

Had Duterte steered clear of the Marcoses, had he been more aware and sensitive of the plight of the Martial Law victims, had he acted more as a statesman rather than a politician our country would not be in this mess! I find it strange that Duterte seemed to have forgotten that his late mother fought against the dictatorship. And that his rise to power began when Cory Aquino appointed him OIC Vice Mayor of Davao.

Duterte should be called to task for showing his real colour: a tuta (lapdog) of the Marcoses.

Now that's one sign we should see unfurled during these mass protests!

***

It's the start of the Advent season this Sunday! Let this season be a moment for us to rethink of our past, of our values, of all our gains and losses. Let Advent be an opportunity for us to realize where we are going to. Is it back to the manger of Bethlehem or nowhere? Let this holy season be a time for us to rediscover that only in Jesus could we find the light which will defeat in the darkness our country is in. From November 29 to December 7, let us say at least a decade of the Rosary, asking Mary Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception (our country's patroness) to lead us to Jesus, to yearn for the Promised Messiah: O come, O come Emmanuel and ransom captive Orient's Pearl!

Shining Within Us

Lord Jesus, your light is shining within us,
Let not my doubts and darkness speak to me.
Lord Jesus, your light is shining within in us.
Let my heart always welcome your love.

I have accidentally omitted this beautiful song in my recent article on the Taize prayer service which was held in our parish.  With a slow and gentle tempo, this song allows us anyone who sings it to meditate, to let one's heart speak to the Lord.

 

Lord Jesus, your light is shining within us,
Let not my doubts and darkness speak to me.
Lord Jesus, your light is shining within in us.
Let my heart always welcome your love.

I think of this song as I recall that horrible mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. In an interview, the father of the gunman had one question to his son: Why? Indeed, most if not all of us affected by this incident would echo the same question. Is it pure hatred on the LGBT (Lesbian, gay, Bisexual, Transgender) community? If it is, would killing 49 people and wounding another 50 be justifiable?

 

Lord Jesus, your light is shining within us,
Let not my doubts and darkness speak to me.
Lord Jesus, your light is shining within in us.
Let my heart always welcome your love.

My thoughts too go to that bishop in Shanghai, China, Thaddeus Ma Daqin who recently made an about face when he publicly recanted his decision to bolt the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association (CCPA). CCPA is sanctioned by the state to control the life of the Catholic Church in China since the 1950s. Control includes ordaining their own bishops without the blessing from Vatican. When Daqin was ordained, he publicly dissociated himself with CCPA. Put under house arrest, he did not give into pressure to recant and served as a model to Catholics who secretly maintained their loyalty to Rome. Until last June 12. What made him change his mind?

 

Lord Jesus, your light is shining within us,
Let not my doubts and darkness speak to me.
Lord Jesus, your light is shining within in us.
Let my heart always welcome your love.

While my heart has high hopes for the President-elect in my land of birth, I felt uneasy with how he has already alienated a host of people: the UN, the Catholic Church (albeit I would imagine that his ire is more focused on the leaders of the Church), the Martial Law victims, women, the media, and the Vice President-elect (I could understand why he is not going to appoint her to his Cabinet, but having a separate inauguration is beyond me!). He seems hell-bent to have the former dictator buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.  Why? To console the Marcoses at the expense of the many who suffered under the dictatorship? Elections are political exercises. They divide people. Some are in this camp, while another is on that camp, etc. But now that they're over, shouldn't Duterte, as paterfamilias, reach out to everyone (regardless if they voted for him or not) instead of catering only to the needs of his friends and others close to him?

 

Lord Jesus, your light is shining within us,Let not my doubts and darkness speak to me.
Lord Jesus, your light is shining within in us.
Let my heart always welcome your love.

In these moments of darkness and doubt, in these times when we would often ask "Why?", let us take courage in Jesus' light "shining within us". Let us also pray that this same light will shine on the victims of the Orlando shooting, on Omar Mateen (RIP) and others who have wrong views on other people, on Thaddeus Ma Daqin, on our fellow Catholics in China who keep the faith alive, on President-elect Duterte, and on our country.  And because it's Father's Day this Sunday, let us also remember all fathers in our prayer.  May we all be guided by this light to work for what is true and just.

 

Starting Off on the Wrong Foot

The only time I voted for a president and vice president in the Philippines was in 1998.  By the next presidential election in 2004, I was already in the UK. A few years later, I have become a British citizen.  In spite of my inability to vote, I have my own choice from among the presidential candidates.  If I were to cast my vote in the recent election, I would end up undecided until the last minute. At this point, whoever my last minute choice is would be irrelevant. Rodrigo Duterte is the president in waiting. Leni Robredo, thank goodness, is the vice president in waiting!

 

During the presidential debates, candidates were asked if they would allow Ferdinand Marcos to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. Only one said no - Mar Roxas. I felt uneasy with the response of his contenders such as Duterte and Binay. And I imagined them being true to their promise once they get elected. Duterte has announced his intention to do so which caused some quarters to be up in arms such as the victims and survivors of Martial Law.

Six years ago, I expressed concerns because President Noynoy Aquino was reportedly considering a proposal to have the late dictator interred at the Libingan.  With a new regime in the horizon, these concerns have lurked anew.

When Cory was president she didn't allow her predecessor's remains to be buried in Philippine soil. When Fidel Ramos was elected, he allowed the remains to be flown home, but on several conditions which, Imelda and her children have not yet fulfilled. According to the Philippine Daily Inquirer, the conditions are:  "that the body would be given the honors of a junior officer, that it would be buried immediately, and that the burial place would be in Marcos’ home province of Ilocos Norte."

If the Marcoses have not been fair with the conditions set by a president (during that time) and a relative at that, why should they have the gall of insisting for a hero's burial for the deceased strongman? Many years ago, I was in Sarrat, Ilocos Norte (Marcos' birthplace) and had a chat with Manong Conrado, the katiwala in our family home there who has passed away a few years back. Asked where he would prefer the Apo to be buried, he quipped, "Dito na lang (sa Sarrat). Maalagaan pa namin yung libingan niya."

Why and how the Marcoses have thrived and behaved all these years post-EDSA Uno, is due to our short memory as a people. And now the president in waiting seems hell bent to honor a former president-turned-dictator/human rights violator/plunderer with a hero's burial, dismissing concerns from Marcos' victims as purely for monetary gain. (Wasn't this the same argument Bongbong Marcos once said regarding the victims of his father's dictatorial rule? Imagine if this guy was elected vice president!)  This is beyond me. At a time when we should be full of hope for our country because of a new leader, I fear that the new dispensation is starting off on the wrong foot.

Let's be vigilant, mga kababayan! There is an online petition urging Duterte to abandon his plan (https://www.change.org/p/rodrigo-duterte-no-to-burying-marcos-in-heroes-cemetery). Please sign it!

No to FM Burial at the Libingan!